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For swimming with your ears underwater, choose headphones explicitly approved for swimming that can play audio stored on the headphones. Do not buy a Bluetooth-only pair expecting a phone on the poolside to keep the music playing. Waterproofing protects the device within its stated limits; it does not solve the wireless connection. If you already own swim-rated headphones with local playback, try that mode before replacing them.
Waterproof and wireless answer different questions
A water rating tells you about the conditions a device is designed to withstand. Bluetooth is how audio reaches it from another device. A headset can have both features without supporting a dependable phone connection under water. Shokz explicitly explains that its original OpenSwim uses internal storage because a Bluetooth connection would be lost when submerged.
For laps, treat local playback as the essential feature. A newer Bluetooth version or a long advertised range on land is not a reason to expect poolside streaming to work. For listening on dry land beside the pool, ordinary Bluetooth use is a different situation.
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Choose the playback method before the brand
| Your use | Sensible starting point | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Pool laps with your ears submerged | Swim-rated headphones with onboard audio storage. | You prepare and transfer compatible files before the swim. |
| Swimming plus walks or gym sessions | A swim-rated model with both local playback and Bluetooth. | You switch modes; the phone connection is for use on land. |
| Listening only on dry land | Keep a suitable pair you already enjoy. | There is little reason to pay for swim features you will not use. |
| Only want a subscription-app playlist | Resolve how that audio would reach the exact player before buying. | An offline download inside a phone app is not automatically a transferable audio file. |
A saved playlist is not necessarily a file you can transfer
Before ordering, find one audio file you are allowed to copy and confirm that the player supports its format. A song downloaded for offline listening inside a subscription app should not be treated as a loose MP3. Shokz’s OpenSwim support page says the player does not work with Spotify or Apple Music streaming services.
That distinction changes the purchase. If you already have suitable files, a local player can fit your routine. If all your listening happens inside a subscription app and you do not want to manage files, pause the purchase. Storage capacity alone will not make that library usable.
Use legitimately supplied, transferable audio. Do not assume a file-converter service can turn every app download into a supported library. For podcasts or audiobooks, look for an actual downloadable file and its permitted uses rather than assuming the app’s Download button exports one.
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Do a phone-free playback check before your first swim
Set up a short playlist while everything is dry. Follow the exact model’s transfer instructions: for example, the OpenSwim Pro manual describes connecting its supplied cable to a computer and copying audio to the device’s storage. That is an example workflow, not a claim that every headset uses the same cable or controls.
Then select local playback, disconnect the cable and turn off the phone’s Bluetooth. Play, pause and skip a track using the headset. If it cannot play independently on land, troubleshoot the file or playback mode before taking it into the pool. This checks the music setup; it does not test waterproofing.
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Where Mojawa Run Plus fits
Run Plus is a relevant candidate if you want one headset for land and pool use: Mojawa lists Bluetooth and 32GB of internal music storage, and specifically tells swimmers to disconnect Bluetooth and use MP3 mode. Those are the useful features for this decision; they are not evidence that its sound or fit is better than another model’s.
Mojawa’s FAQ describes normal swimming within 2 meters for about 2 hours and advises against deep diving and sauna use. Treat those as the manufacturer’s model-specific limits, not a promise about all IP68 headphones. Follow the instructions supplied with your chosen version for swimming, cleaning and drying before charging.
Common questions
Will putting the phone closer to the pool fix it?
Do not rely on that for submerged laps. The useful buying solution is to remove the phone link from the playback path by using stored audio.
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Can bone-conduction headphones stream underwater just because of their design?
No. How a headset delivers sound and how it receives audio are separate choices. For the swim models discussed here, local playback is the relevant underwater mode.
Do I need to buy a new pair?
Not if your current model is approved for swimming and already plays compatible audio without a phone. Learn that mode first; replace it only if it does not meet your needs.
Explore Mojawa
Mojawa Run Plus is one option for local music playback in the pool and Bluetooth on land. Compare the selected model’s swim limits and file-transfer instructions before buying. If you cannot supply compatible audio, resolve that first.
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This guide draws on published product information, not hands-on testing. Sources and check dates are listed below.
- Shokz OpenSwim support: Bluetooth and streaming-service limitationsSource checked Sep 20, 2026
- Shokz OpenSwim Pro manual: local playback and file transfer (pages 13–14)Source checked Sep 20, 2026
- Mojawa Run Plus: internal storage and swimming preparationSource checked Sep 20, 2026
- Mojawa Run Plus FAQ: swimming depth, duration and use limitsSource checked Sep 20, 2026
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